Mechanism for wrapping machines



April 11, 1933. F GRQVER MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Feb. 5.1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l F. GROVER MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES April11, 1933.

Filed Feb. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 11, 1933. GROVER 1,903,670

MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Feb. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F.GROVER MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING'MACHINES April 11, 1933.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5, 1932 Patented Apr. 11, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE FREDERICK GROVER, 0F LEEDS, ENGLAND, ASSIG-NOR TO THEFORGIROVE MACHINERY COMPANY LIMITED, 0F LEEDS, ENGLAND, AND JOHNMACKINTOSH & SONS LIMITED,

OF HALIFAX, ENGLAND MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Application filedFebruary 5, 1932, Serial No.

This invention relates to the feeding of tablets or other articles to bewrapped in a wrap-ping machine, to said wrapping machine.

Tablets are usually fed to the wrapp ng machine from a horizontal tableupon which a bulk quantity of the tablets to be wrapped may be dumped ina rather confined space Within reach of the operator, who places thetablets from the dump on a transport belt or chain of the wrappingmachine in a regular formation. The speed at which the op er-ator canfeed the tablets to the wrapplng machine is largely determined by theextent of movement of the hands of the operator in reaching towardsremote tablets in the dump, and by the manual manipulation required forplacing the tablets in the correct position on the feed belt or chain.

Moreover, the supply of tablets to the dumping position on the wrappingmachine feed table is frequently effected by mechanically conveying tothe wrapping machine successive trays of uniform construction upon whichthe tablets have been regularly deposited, the correct way uppermost ina single layer, after completing the previous op eration in themanufacture of the goods. The dumping of the contents of these trays onto a more confined space within reach of the operator at the wrappingmachine, piles up and disarranges the orderly single layer formation ofthe tablets which existed on the trays and this, consequently, impedesthe operation of feeding the tablets. Further, the dumping of thetablets causes scratches and other blemishes which mar the appearance ofthe tablets.

The main object of the present invention is to provide means forcreating a controlled flow of tablets to a convenient position in frontof the operator and adjacent to the transport belt or chain of thewrapping machine, so that the quantity of tablets in said positionconforms with the speed of the wrapping machine and thus facilitates thefeeding of the tablets on to the transport belt or chain of the wrappingmachine.

A further object is to maintain for the feeding operator the advantagesof the single 591,137, and. in Great Britain April 24, 1931.

layer formation on the tray, and yet to avoid making the extended areanecessary for the tablets such that the tablets will be placed beyondthe reach of the operator, and also avoid marring the appearance of thetablets to be wrapped.

According to this invention, there is provided for feeding the tabletsto the wrapping machine the combination of an inclined tray adapted toreceive said tablets, mechanism for vibrating said tray and acontrolling device adapted to permit the amplitude of vibrationsimparted to said tray to be varied from stationary up to apre-determined maximum. The mechanism for vibrating said tray maycomprise a pivoted member adapted to vibrate continuously and mechanismfor transmitting the vibratory movements of said pivoted member to saidtray, while the control device is adapted to move the connection betweensaid transmission mechanism and the pivoted member from a pointcoincident with the pivot of the pivoted member, where no movement istransmitted by said mechanism, outwardly from said pivot to anadjustable extent where vibratory movement is transmitted by saidtransmission mechanism which increases with increase" of distance ofsaid connection from said pivot.

The tablets may be brought to the wrapping machine on trays on which thetablets have been deposited in more or less regular formation in themanufacture thereof, in which case the machine is provided with a traysupport for receiving such trays, said tray support being connected tothe vibrating mechanism so that when such trays are placed on the traysupport their contents may be discharged under control of the operator.A table is provided adjacent the lower end of the tray or tray supporton to which table the tablets are adapted to be fed from said tray, soas to make a supply of tablets available to the operator while the traysare being changed in order to ensure the continuity in the passage oftablets to the wrapping machine.

Alternatively, ordinary trays or other receptacles may be used fortransferring the tablets, and the contents of these trays may be dumpedon a feed tray incorporated with the feed mechanism according to thisinvention, thus avoiding the multiplicity of said feed trays.

The invention will now be described with reference to the form ofconstruction shown upon the accompanying drawings, in which v V Fig. lis a side elevation of the apparatus for feeding the tablets, saidapparatus having tray supports on which the tray, indicated by chaindotted lines, is adapted to be mounted in an inclined position.

Fig. 2-is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, having parts ofthe tray support broken away in order to indicate more clearly theconstruction of parts of the mechanism. v

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 33 in Fig. 2 showing themechanism for imparting vibratory movements to the tray and thecontrolling device for said mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the method of connecting thecontrol device to the vibrating mechanism and having parts broken awayin order to show more clearly the construction of the connection.

Figs. 5 and 6 show an elevation and plan view respectively of one formof a tray.

Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views to Fig. 5 of a modified form of tray,together with a sup port therefor.

As shown in the drawings, a frame a is provided with a series ofsupports a, a a a adapted to support a tray indicated at b in such aninclined position behind the wrapping machine feed belt 0 as to tend tocause the tablets carried on said tray to slide towards said belt. Thesupports are so ar ranged that the inclination of thetray isapproximately that of the friction angle, so that unless the frame isvibrated the tablets will not slide down the inclined surface of thetray. The frame a is formed at one side with a depending lug a to whichis fixed a bearing a mounted on a vertical pivot at carried by anextension d of a bracket 6Z2 fixed on the wrapping machine. The frame isalso provided with supports a, a a having rollers (1 a a which bear onhorizontal surfaces e e 6 fixed on the supporting framework of theapparatus. By means of the pivot d and supports a a a", the frame a isfree to move within the limits in a horizontal plane. Means is providedfor vibrating said frame in a horizontal plane so as to cause thetablets on the tray to slide towards the wrapping machine feed belt andthe operator. who

sits adjacent to said belt. The pivoted frame a is caused to vibrate bymeans which are more clearly shown in Fig. 3 and comprise a crank fmounted on a crank wheel 7' on a constantly driven shaft f of thewrapping machine, which crank engages in a slot 9 in the arm g of abellcrank lever mounted on a pivot g turnably mounted on a bearing g on thebracket 0?. The second arm 9 of this bell crank lever is formed with aslot 9. This bell crank lever is thus caused to vibrate and thevibratory movements of the arm g are communicated to the frame a bymeans of a connecting rod it connected at one end of the arm 9 by aspindle h engaging in the slot 9*, and at its other end by a pivot 71,to the end of one arm h fixed to a vertical shaft h carrying at itsupper end an arm h which is provided at its outer end with a slide hengaging between guides a and a, on the frame a.

The speed of the tablets sliding down the tray can be varied by alteringthe amplitude of the vibrations given to the frame a. The amplitude ofthe vibrations transmitted to the frame a can be altered by means of acontrol device also shown more clearly in Fig. 3 and comprising a stay2' for the spindle h which stay is connected at its lower end ,to a bellcrank lever 11 connected by a link 2' to an arm i fixed on a foot pedal71* which is adapted to be worked by the foot of the operator.

The arms 9 g of the bell crank lever are constructed as shown in Fig. 4with the arm 9 located in a different plane to that containing the arm 9these arms being connected by the cranked extension g With thisconstruction the slot 9 in the arm g can extend downwardly below theaxis of the pivot g in such a manner that the spindle 71. can be movedinto a position in which it is coaxial with that of the pivot 9 which isthe position shown in Fig. 4, the axes of these two members beingindicated by a chain dotted line 9. With this arrangement, when thespindle h is situated co-axially with the pivot 9 the arm 9 continues tovibrate but no vibratory movement is communicated to the frame a by theconnecting rod h. This is the normal position of the mechanism. WVhenthe operator depresses the footpedal so as to cause the spindle k tomove along the slot g outwards from the pivot point the vibratorymovement of the arm g is communicated by the connecting rod h and theother mechanism described to the frame The amplitude of the vibrationscommunicated to the frame a will depend on the location of the spindleit relatively to the pivot g and will increase as the spindle h is movedaway from said pivot until the position shown in Fig. 3 is reached, whenthe vibrations imparted to the frame will beat a maximum. Thus theamplitude of vibrations imparted to the frame can be increased ordiminished. at the will of the operator, under control of the footpedal.

At a point adjacent the lower edge of the tray, there is'provided on thesupports a", a, a draw plate j located at an angle corresponding to thatof the tray and having its lower edge resting on a table k on to whichthe tablets are adapted to be fed from said tray after passing over thedraw plate 'j. A reasonable number of tablets can accumulate on thistable is, so that when the tray is empty the replacement of another fulltray can take place before such accumulation of tablets is entirelydisposed of. The draw plate j is provided at its ends with brackets j 9'to which are fixed flexible plates 7' j which extend forwardly to thedraw plate and are supported at their forward ends by brackets I0 on thetable is. These brackets and flexible plates prevent the tablets frombeing displaced laterally off the ends of the draw plate and table.

To facilitate the change of the tray, the vibration of the frame isdiscontinued. WVhen a full tray is first placed on the supports, thevibratory movement imparted to the frame and tray will be controlled bythe operator, so that the sliding movements of i the tablets will beallowed to commence only 7 when all the tablets from the previous trayhave been fed into the wrapping machine feed belt. In this way, theoperator is able to feed the tablets without any break of continuity dueto intermittent supplies and with a minimum of effort and, consequently,at an increased speed.

If desired, ordinary trays or other receptacles may beused for thetransfer of the tablets, in which case the contents of such trays orreceptacles may be dumped on to a feed tray which is fixed on the traysupports, or is at least not intended to be removed from said supportsand replaced by another tray. Such a feed tray may be constructed asshown in Figs. 5 and 6 with a base Z, two opposed upstandinglongitudinal side members Z Z and an upstanding end member Z at the top.The lower end of the tray is without an upstanding side member so as toform at this end anoutlet Z extending the whole Width of the interior ofthe tray through which the tablets can flow.

Alternatively, instead of the tray being constructed as shown in Figs. 5and 6 it may be constructed as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which thesupports a a located on one side of the frame a are provided withupstanding brackets, only one of which is shown in Fig. 7 and marked m.This bracket is provided at the top with an angle piece m which supportsone of the longitudinal side edges of the tray, so that this tray nslopes transversely as well as longitudinally. In order to preventexcessive discharge from the lower edge of this tray, the tray isprovided, in addition to the upstanding longitudinal side and top edges,with an inclined guiding wall n fixed to the surface of the tray andextending diagonally between the upstanding side a and the lower edge awhere it forms a restricted outlet 11 for the brated by a crank andconnecting rod or other receptacle device described, but it will beunderstood that the frame may be vibrated bodily by any other suitablemechanism, or the frame or an inclined tray may be subjected to a slighttapping or rapping controlled by the operator.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent isr 1. In wrapping machines, the combination of a tray support adapted toreceive and support in an inclined position a tray for the tablets to befed to said machine, avertical pivot carrying said tray support, rollerson said tray support and horizontal bearing surfaces for said rollerswhereby the tray support can be vibrated in a horizontal plane,mechanism for vibrating said tray support and controlling means for saidmechanism adapted to permit the amplitude of vibrations imparted to saidtray to be varied from stationary up to a predetermined maximum.

2. In wrapping machines, the combination of a tray support adapted toreceive and support in an inclined position a tray for the tablets to befed to said machine, a vertical pivot carrying said tray support,rollers on said tray support, horizontal bearing surfaces for saidrollers, a pivoted member adapted to vibrate continuously having a slotextending outwardly from its pivot, a link having its one end slidablein said slot in the pivoted member and connected at its other end tosaid ,tray support and a control device adapted to move the end of saidlink along said slot from a point coincident with the pivot of thepivoted member where no vibratory movement is transmitted by said link,outwardly to an ustable extent where vibratory movement is transmittedby said link which increases with increase of distance of the end ofsaid link from said pivot.

3. In wrapping machines. the combination of a tray support adapted toreceive and support in an inclined position a tray for the tablets to befed to said machine, a vertical pivot carrying said tray support,rollers on said tray support and horizontal bearing surfaces for saidrollers, a crank member on a shaft adapted to rotate continuously, apivoted member so connected to said crank as to be vibratedcontinuously, a link having its one end slidable in said slot in thepivoted member and connected at its other end to said tray support, acontrol device connected at its upper end to the end of the link whichis slidable in said slot and connected at its lower end to a treadle,whereby the end of said link can be moved from a point coincident withthe pivot of the pivoted member where no vibratory movement istransmitted by said link, outwardly to an adjustable extent wherevibratory movement is transmitted by said link 'which vibratory movementincreases in amplitude with increase of distance of the end of said linkfrom said pivot, a table adjacent the lower end of the tray supportadapted to receive tablets fed from said tray and a draw plate betweensaid tray support and the table over which the tablets pass to saidtable.

at. In wrapping machines, the combination of, an inclined tray adaptedto receive the tablets to be fed to said wrapping machine, mechanism forvibrating said tray, said mechanism including parts which are relativelymovable to permit the amplitude of vibrations imparted to said tray tobe varied from stationary up to a predetermined maximum, a controlmember for etfecting relative movements of said parts, and means forconnecting said control member to said parts arranged to prevent thevibratory movements being transmitted to said control member.

5. In wrapping machines, the combination of, an inclined tray adapted toreceive the tablets to be fed to said wrapping machine, mechanism forvibrating said tray, said mechanism including a pivoted arm adapted tovibrate about said pivot and having a slot extending outwards from apoint coincident with said pivot, a sliding member in said slot, a linkhaving its one end mounted on said sliding member adapted to transmitvibratory movements to said tray, a control member for eiiectingmovement of said sliding member in said slot in order to vary theamplitude of vibration imparted to said tray from stationary up to apredetermined maximum, and a control connecting member having one endpivotally mounted on said tray and having its other end pivotallyconnected to said control member so as to prevent the vibratorymovements being transmitted to said control member.

6. In wrapping machines, the combination of, an inclined tray adapted toreceive the tablets to be fed to said wrapping machine, mechanism forvibrating said tray adapted to cause the tablets to move down said tray,said mechanism including an upwardly extending arm, a pivot at the lowerend of said arm about which said arm is adapted to vibrate, said armhaving a slot extending upwardly from a point coincident with the pivot,a sliding member in said slot, a link having its one end mounted on saidsliding member and having its other end connected to said tray, acontrol member and a control connecting member pivoted at its upper endto said sliding member and at its lower end to the control member, saidcontrol member and control connecting member being arranged normally tomaintain the sliding member coincident with said pivot for the arm butpermit said sliding member to be adjusted upwards to impart vibratorymovements to said link which increase in amplitude with increase indistance of the sliding member from said pivot, while preventing thevibratory movements from being transmitted to said control member.

'7. In wrapping machines, the combination of, a feed table having awrapping machine feed belt for conveying tablets to the wrappingmachine, a tray mounted behind and inclined downwardly to said tableadapted to receive the tablets to be fed to said table, mechanism forvibrating said tray, said mechanism including parts which are relativelymovable to permit the amplitude of vibrations imparted to said tray tobe varied from stationary up to a predetermined maximum, a controlmember adjacent said table operable by an operator while working at saidtable for effecting relative movements of said parts, and means forconnecting said control member to said parts arranged to prevent thevibratory movements being transmitted to said control member.

8. In wrapping machines, the combination of, a feed table having awrapping machine feed belt for conveying tablets to the wrappingmachine, a tray mounted behind and inclined downwardly to said tableadapted to receive the tablets to be fed to said table, mechanism forvibrating said tray, said mechanism including a pivoted arm adapted tovibrate about said pivot and having a slot extending outwards from apoint coincident with said pivot, a sliding member in said slot, a linkhaving its one end mounted on said sliding member adapted to transmitvibratory movements to said tray, a control member adjacent said tableoperable by an operator while working at said table for eii'ectingmovement of said sliding member in said slot in orderto vary-theamplitude of vibration imparted to said tray from stationary up to apredetermined maximum, a control connecting member having one endpivotally mounted on said tray and having its other end pivotallyconnected to said control member so as to prevent the vibratorymovements being transmitted to said control member.

9. In wrapping machines, the combination of, a feed table having awrapping machine feed belt for conveying tablets to the wrappingmachine, a tray mounted behind and inclined downwardly to said tableadapted to receive the tablets to be fed to'said table, mechanism forvibrating said tray adapted to cause the tablets to move down said trayand on to said feed table, said mechanism including an upwardlyextending arm, a pivot at the lower end of said arm about which said armis adapted to vibrate, said arm having a slot extending upwardly from apoint coincident with the pivot, a sliding member in said slot, a linkhaving its one end mounted on said sliding member and having its otherend connected to said tray, a control member and a control connectingmember pivoted at its upper end to said sliding member and at its lowerend to the control member, said control member and control connectingmember being arranged normally to maintain the sliding member coincidentwith said pivot for the arm but permit said sliding member to beadjusted upwards to impart vibratory movements to said link whichincrease an amplitude with increase in distance of the sliding memberfrom said pivot, while preventing the vibratory movements from beingtransmitted to said control member.

10. In wrapping machines, the combination of, a feed table having awrapping machine feed belt for conveying tablets to the wrappingmachine, a tray mounted behind and inclined downwardly to said tableadapted to receive the tablets to be fed to said table, a crank mountedon .a shaft adapted to rotate continuously, a pivoted member soconnected to said crank as to be continuously vibrated thereby, saidpivoted member having a slot extending outwardly from its pivot, asliding member in said slot, a link having its one end connected to saidsliding member and connected at its other end to said tray, a controlmember, and means for connecting said control member to said slidingmember adapted to permit said sliding member to be moved along said slotfrom a point coincident with the pivot of the pivoted member where novibratory movement is transmitted to said link outwardly to anadjustable extent where vibratory movement is transmitted by said linkwhich increases in amplitude with increase of distance from said pivot,said connecting means being arranged to prevent the vibratory movementsfrom being transmitted to said control member. In witness whereof I havehereunto set my hand.

FREDERICK GROVER.

